"Brought to blackmail people": Tejashwi Yadav slams Centre over Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill

Patna (Bihar) [India], August 26 (ANI): RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Tuesday criticised the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, which allows the removal of Prime Minister, Chief Minister and Ministers from their post if jailed for 30 days in a serious offence, and called it a move to "blackmail" people.
Tejashwi Yadav alleged that the Centre is bringing such laws instead of discussing relevant issues.
The RJD leader told reporters, "The dictatorship is at its peak in this nation. There is no discussion on poverty and unemployment or the condition of the farmers. This bill has been brought to blackmail people. We had opposed it previously, too."
He further asked the Centre to discuss Bihar's development.
"They never discuss establishing factories and sugar mills in Bihar, or stopping migration and reducing inflation. I want to tell the PM that the nation cannot progress without Bihar's progress," he said.
Tejashwi's remarks came amid a political row over the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20, proposes a framework for the removal of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and ministers if they are jailed for more than 30 consecutive days on serious criminal charges punishable with imprisonment of five years or more.
The bill has been referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses of Parliament.
Ahead of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's Bihar visit for Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha's conclave, Tejashwi slammed the Centre for not giving the Central University status to Patna University.
"What is the student conclave about? Will the Education Minister explain why the PM did not grant Patna University the status of a central university? And Nitish Kumar will keep begging for it?" he asked.
Meanwhile, the Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, along with Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, is leading the 'Voter Adhikaar Yatra' in Bihar.
"We are on the Yatra with Rahul Gandhi, and we are connecting with the people. The people are enthusiastic. The Mahagathbandhan is garnering significant support from the people, which has irked the NDA," he said.
Slamming the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), he called it "Nahi Denge Adhikar" (Will not give rights).
"NDA means 'Nahi Denge Adhikar'. They want to snatch away the rights of the people and end the Constitution. They are trying to end democracy, and we will not let that happen. The people will give them a befitting reply in the upcoming elections," Yadav told reporters.
Resuming on Day 10 from Husain Chowk in Saharsa, the Yatra will move via Kishanpur, Jhanjharpur and Sakri to reach Darbhanga.
Led by Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, the 16-day 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' opposes the alleged "vote theft" and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar. (ANI)